From metal to digital: Bridging the gap, Optimizing digital font readability (Part 2)

Ilene Strizver

In Part 1 of From metal to digital: Understanding the underlying differences, we discussed why each digital font is spaced and kerned to look its best at a particular point-size range, be it for text or display. Not every typeface looks good when used beyond this range, but many can, with a bit of help to optimize their readability.

If you’ve selected a typeface that was designed and spaced for display, and you’re setting it at small point sizes, the spacing will appear tight. Your text’s overall readability will begin to be compromised. You will encounter the reverse when you use an optimal-for-text typeface at larger sizes: The spacing will look too open, likewise compromising readability and good typographic color. The good news is that today’s design software provides a feature that allows you to extend the flexibility and functionality of the “one-size-fits-all” digital font. This feature is tracking, which offers an incremental fix to a progressive problem.

As you increase the point size of a font that is intended primarily for text (such as Scala Sans® shown below), the spacing begins to look too open. The larger it is set, the more open it appears. You can remedy this by reducing the tracking, a little at a time, until the spacing looks more balanced.

C Scala Sans — *Scala Sans was designed and spaced to be used primarily as a text typeface. When set at larger point sizes, it looks too open.*

D Scala Sans — *When using Scala Sans at larger point sizes, reducing the tracking will create better typographic color and improve readability.*

Conversely, when you are setting a font intended for display (such as Helvetica Neue shown below), but at a text size, the spacing will look too tight. When this happens, increase the tracking gradually to improve the color, texture and readability of the type.

A Helvetica — The Helvetica® Neue family was designed primarily for display usage, and the overall spacing reflects this intent. Type looks fine at large sizes, but appears increasingly tight as the point size decreases, as shown in the examples above with zero tracking.

B Helvetica — *When using Helvetica Neue Extra Light at smaller sizes (as it is frequently set), increase the tracking to maintain readability, as indicated above.*

NOTE: These recommendations apply primarily to print and other static typographic usages. Type that will need to be read from a distance while the reader is in motion, such as highway and way-finding signage, may have different readability requirements.

Editor’s Note:Ilene Strizver, founder of The Type Studio, is a typographic consultant, designer and writer specializing in all aspects of typographic communication. She conducts Gourmet Typography workshops internationally. Read more about typography in her latest literary effort, Type Rules! The designer's guide to professional typography, 4th edition, published by Wiley & Sons, Inc. This article was commissioned and approved by Monotype Imaging Inc.